Sunday, January 6, 2013

First of all, to be clear, NG Kids paid the agency but the agency didn't pay me. Same story as this entry : agency is having financial troubles, can't/won't pay, owner ignores attempts at contact, refuses legal release from contract based on non-payment, presumably gambles on legal costs being beyond that of the average photographer.

A few photographers have warned me to keep my mouth shut. I am not sure what is more appalling: the unpaid use of the image or the inclination of more accomplished photographers than myself alluding to my keeping my mouth shut about it; perhaps an indication of the sacrifices necessary to really "make it". What a poison industry.

I have never received compensation for something because of favoritism in any facet of my history of gainful employment as a mechanical engineer, high-school teacher or wildlife photographer. I have never earned a salary large enough that I could not replace it doing something else. As such, I will never live in fear of saying the wrong thing and effectively ousting myself from any hierarchy. This does not mean I am willing to shoot my mouth off for nothing; I
know what discretion and professionalism means. And I still have never
mentioned the name of the agency in question. But I know that I cannot shut my mouth when something is so obviously wrong.

The fact remains, the anonymous $1000+ agency purchases of two of my
images in as many months tells me that the work speaks for itself -- even if others reap the financial benefits. What's left to do? Hunker down, accept my roll as really just a stock shooter and try not to communicate too much with the elite of the business who will never see the world in the same light I do. The conversations with the elite and the ideological clashes that occur between the lines do nothing but bring me down and minimize my hardships. No new material to any agents; Everything I create now resides here.